USCCB Director Authors Study Book on Presidential Prayers and Texts in the New Roman Missal

November 18, 2011

WASHINGTON— Father Daniel Merz, associate director of the Secretariat for Divine Worship at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is the author of a new book entitled Essential Presidential Prayers and Texts: A Roman Missal Study Edition and Workbook.The book is co-authored withAbbott Marcel Rooney, OSB, of Conception Abbey and former Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation at St. Anselm’s Abbey in Rome.

According to the publisher, Liturgy Training Publications (LTP), Essential Presidential Prayers provides pastoral commentary and proclamation tips to aid priest celebrants in confidently praying the revised words of the Mass. It includes background and scriptural references as well as guidance on words to emphasize, when to pause in the prayers, and the pace at which to recite the prayers. It also includes pastoral commentary and chant tips on the Collects; Prayer over the Offerings; Prefaces; Prayer after Communion; and Solemn Blessings for Sundays, solemnities, and feasts as well as proclamation aids for the various prayers of the Mass. The aim is to aid the celebrant in leading the congregation in full, active and conscious participation during Mass.

“The pastoral commentary is also intended to be a resource and incentive to priests and deacons to preach on these texts in the homily,” said Father Merz. “We felt there was a need to help priests both with proclamation and understanding of the history behind some of the essential prayers of the Mass. We hope they’ll find this resource helpful not just for them but to educate the community of believers as well.”

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